BRO Chief Lt Gen Harpal Singh Awards Vishisht Seva Medal to Two Chief Engineers
Lieutenant General Harpal Singh, AVSM, VSM, Director General Border Roads (DGBR), formally conferred the Vishisht Seva Medal on two Border Roads Organisation engineers on August 25, 2026, in recognition of their distinguished service to the nation.
The medal was presented to Chief Engineer (Civil) Subhash Chandra Looniya (Retired), VSM, and Chief Engineer (Civil) Srinivasa Rao Rangineni, VSM, both of whom were recognised for exemplary professional contribution and service of a high order.
The Border Roads Organisation congratulated the two officers and described the ceremony as a proud occasion for the force, which is responsible for building and maintaining strategically important infrastructure in some of India’s most demanding regions.
The Vishisht Seva Medal is awarded by the Indian Armed Forces for distinguished service of a high order. It is meant for personnel whose dedication, professional performance and contribution stand out in the course of duty.
For BRO personnel, such recognition carries added importance because the organisation works in conditions that are often harsh, remote and operationally sensitive. Its engineers and staff are tasked with constructing and maintaining roads, bridges, tunnels and other critical infrastructure across difficult terrain, including high-altitude areas, locations affected by extreme weather and zones with challenging geological conditions.
Within that framework, Chief Engineers hold key technical and leadership responsibilities. They oversee major projects, manage engineering resources and personnel, coordinate complex construction activity and ensure that strategically significant works meet both operational and technical requirements.
Many of BRO’s projects serve a dual purpose. Roads and other infrastructure built in remote border areas help the Armed Forces move personnel and equipment more efficiently, while also improving connectivity for local communities.
The recognition of CE (Civil) Subhash Chandra Looniya (Retd) and CE (Civil) Srinivasa Rao Rangineni therefore also reflects the contribution of BRO’s engineering leadership to the strengthening of India’s border infrastructure.
For Subhash Chandra Looniya, the award brought formal acknowledgement of years of service even after retirement, making the ceremony a particularly meaningful moment in his professional journey.
For Srinivasa Rao Rangineni, the decoration represented recognition of continuing service and professional excellence while he remains in office and carries forward the organisation’s responsibilities.
Lt Gen Harpal Singh’s presentation also reflected BRO’s tradition of acknowledging personnel whose work advances its wider mission of improving connectivity and building strategic infrastructure.
Behind the roads, bridges and tunnels that BRO delivers are teams of engineers, supervisors and support personnel who often work for long periods in environments where construction itself is a major challenge. Decorations such as the Vishisht Seva Medal recognise that commitment and the leadership required to turn ambitious infrastructure plans into operational assets on the ground.
BRO extended its congratulations to CE (Civil) Subhash Chandra Looniya (Retd), VSM, and CE (Civil) Srinivasa Rao Rangineni, VSM, describing their achievement as a proud moment for the organisation and for its personnel serving across the country.
